Electrical terminal having a tension loop therein



Nov. 12, 1968 H. J. TYLER ETAL ELECTRICAL TERMINAL HAVING A TENSION LOOPTHEREIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 12, 1964 INVENTORS HUGH J.TYLER DENIS G. WOLFE THEIR ATTORNEYS FIG.2

Nov. 12, 1968 H. J. TYLER ETAL 3,410,972

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL HAVING A TENSION LOOP THEREIN Original Filed Oct.12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HUGH J. TYLER DE NIS G. WOLFE awawduTHEIR ATTORNEYS ELECTRICAL TERMINAL HAVING A TENSION LOOP THEREIN 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Oct. 12, 1964 FIG] ' INVENTORS HUGH J.TYLER DENIS G.

THEIR ATTORNEYS 12, 1968 H, J. TYLER ETAL 3,410,972

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL HAVING A TENSION LOOP THEREIN Original Filed Oct.12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGJI INVENTORS HUGH J. TYLER DENIS G. WOLFEavdaxnaqa THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,410,972 ELECTRICALTERMINAL HAVING A TENSION LOOP THEREIN Hugh J. Tyler, Fairport, N.Y.,and Denis G. Wolfe,

Youngwood, Pa., assignors to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va.,a corporation of Delaware Original application Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No.403,039, now Patent No. 3,316,375, dated Apr. 25, 1967. Divided and thisapplication Feb. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 614,996

3 Claims. (Cl. 200166) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A thermostaticallyoperated electrical switch construction wherein a movable contact iscarried by an L-shaped flexible member and is moved toward a stationarycontact by an expansible and contractible power element, the contactsbeing electrically interconnected to terminal means having tension loopstherein to positively maintain the contact interconnecting portions infixed position relative to the housing of the switch construction. Theswitch construction includes unique bracket means for mount ing thepower element and capillary tube of the temperature sensing bulb to thehousing of the switch construction.

This application is a divisional patent application of its copendingparent application, Ser. No. 403,039, filed Oct. 12, 1964, now PatentNo. 3,316,375, issued Apr. 25, 1967, and assigned to the same assigneeto whom this divisional is assigned.

This invention relates to an improved control device or the like as wellas to improved parts for such a control device or the like.

In particular, this invention relates to a control device or the likewherein operating means is carried by a housing means and is movedbetween its operating positions by a condition responsive means carriedby the housing means and sensing different conditions.

Certain of the features of this invention are to provide improved partsfor such a control device or the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcontrol device or the like having one or more of the novel features setforth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such acontrol device or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the control deviceof this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken substantially online 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the controldevice in another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates thecontrol device in still another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrates the controldevice in its overshooting position.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of certain of the operatingparts of the control device of FIG- URE 1.

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FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side view of the operating levers of thecontrol device of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG- URE 2 and illustratesthe terminal locking means before the same has been moved to its lockingposition.

FIGUREll is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially online 1212 of FIGURE 11.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for an electricalswitching means, it is to be understood that the various features ofthis invention can be utilized singly Or in any combination thereof toprovide other types of control devices or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-4, the improved control device of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 andcomprise a housing means 2'11 carrying a pair of terminals 22 and 23adapted to be clentrically interconnected together in a mannerhereinafter described upon a temperature sensing bulb 24 of a conditionresponsive means 25 sensing a predetermined temperature, the conditionresponsive means 25 being secured to the housing means 21 by a mountingbracket 26 of this invention in a manner hereinafter described.

While the housing means 21 can have any suitable shape and be formed ofany suitable material, the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawingis formed from ceramic material having opposed flat surfaces 27 and 28interrupted by mounting bolt holes 29.

The housing means 21 has a cavity 30 provided there in andinterconnected to the side 28 thereof by slots 31 and 32 whichrespectively receive the terminals 22 and 23v As illustrated in FIGURE8, each terminal 22 and 23 has a pair of opposed ends 33 and 34 and isprovided with a tension loop 35 intermediate the ends 33 and 34 for apurpose hereinafter described. The end 34 of each terminal 22 and 23 hasa housing engaging surface 36 while the end 33 thereof has outwardlydirected tan s 37 cooperating therewith to define recesses 38 for apurpose hereinafter described.

The end 34 of the terminal 22 has an electrical contact 39 fixed theretoin any suitable manner.

In order to interconnect the terminals 22 and 23 to the housing means21, the surfaces 36 of the ends 34 of the terminals 22 and 23 arerespectively disposed against shoulder means 40, FIGURE 2, of thehousing 21 to positively locate the ends 34 of the terminals 22 and 23relative to the housing means 21.

In this manner, the ends 33 of the terminals 22 and 23 project outwardlythrough the slots 31 and 32 in the housing means 21 in such a mannerthat the flanges 37 thereof are disposed spaced from the surface 28 ofthe housing means 21.

A pair of locking members 41 having the original configurationillustrated in FIGURE 10 are utilized to not only place the terminals 22and 23 under tension between the ends 34 and 33 thereof, but also topositively lock the terminals 22 and 23 to the housing means 21, thelocking means 41 each having a pair of flat portions 42 interconnectedtogether by loop portions 43 thereof.

When each locking member 41 is deformed from the position illustrated inFIGURE 10 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, it can be seen thatthe fiat portions 42 thereof are wedged inwardly between the fianges 37of the respective terminal 22 or 23 and the surface 28 of the housingmeans 21 to place the terminal 22 or 23 under tension between theshoulders 40 and the surface 28 so as to positively hold the surfaces 36of the terminals 22 and 23 against the shoulders 40, the tension loop ofthe respective terminal 22 or 23' permitting the same to be readilyplaced under tension whereby the locking member holds the surface 36 ofthe respective terminal 22 or 23 against the shoulders 40 of the housingmeans 21 with a force of approximately 30 to 50 pounds.

Thus, it can be seen that once the terminals 22 and 23 have been lockedto the housing means 21 in the above manner, the ends 34 thereof aremaintained in fixed position relative to the housing means 21 so thatsubsequent manipulation or deformation of ends 33 of terminals 22 and 23will not affect the maintenance of the fixed position of ends 34 of theterminals 22 and 23 relative to the housing means 21; thus, subsequentcalibration of the control device 20 will remain stable.

As illustrated in FIGURE 8, a first flexible member 43 is provided andhas a pair of opposed ends 44 and 45 disposed at right angles relativeto each other by a bent portion 46 thereof. The end 45 of the flexiblemember 43 has an opening 47 provided therethrough and from which iscarved an outwardly directed tank 48 having a slot 49 passingtherethrough. The end 45 of the flexible member 43 carries a movablecontact 50 in any suitable manner.

As illustrated in FIGURE 8, a second flexible member 51 is provided andhas opposed ends 52 and 53 disposed at right angles relative to eachother by a bent portion 54 of the member 51. The end 53 of the flexiblemember 51 has a pair of angled finger-like portions 55 respectivelyprovided with recesses 56 at the free ends 57 thereof for a purposehereinafter described. A substantially circular opening 58 passesthrough the end 53 of the flexible member 51 and is substantiallyaligned with the fingers 55 thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

The ends 44 and 52 of the flexible members 43 and 51 are adapted to berespectively interconnected to the end 34 of the terminal 23 in stackedrelation by a common fastening means 59 in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 4 whereby an outwardly directed tank 60 on the end 53 of theflexible member 51 is received in the overshoot slot 49 of the tank 48of the flexible member 43.

A substantially cylindrical rod-like member or motion transmitting means61 is adapted to project loosely through the opening 58 in the flexiblemember 51 and be slidingly received between the flexible fingers 55 ofthe flexible member 51 which project through the opening 47 in theflexible member 43, the resiliency of the fingers 55 tending tofrictionally hold the rod-like member 61 in a fixed sliding relationshiptherewith as the rod-like member 61 is received in the slots 56 of thefingers 55 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9.

The condition responsive means 25 includes a cupshaped member 62 adaptedto have the open end 63 thereof held against the surface 27 of thehousing means 21 by the mounting bracket 26 having portions 64 fastenedto the housing means 21 by fastening means 65 respectively passingthrough the portion 64 of the mounting bracket 26 and a peripheralflange 66 at the open end 63 of the member 62.

Another cup-shaped member 67 is secured in the cupshaped member 62 andhas a fluted wall 68 cooperating therewith to define a chamber 69interconnected to the temperature sensing bulb 24 by the conduit means70.

The movable wall 68 of the condition responsive means 25 is engageablewith an end 71 of the rod-like member 61.

When it is desired to assemble and calibrate the device 20 of thisinvention, an insert 72 formed of a material that can be subsequentlyvaporized is disposed in the slot 49 of the flexible member 43 in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 4 to prevent the end 53 of the flexiblemember 51 from moving relative to the flexible member 43.

In addition, an unset epoxy resin, or similar material, is disposed onthe end 53 of the flexible member 51 in the area of hole 58 and therod-like member 61 to be later set by heat in a manner hereinafterdescribed.

Thereafter, the condition responsive means 25 is assembled to thehousing means 21 by the mounting bracket 20 whereby the flange 66 of thecondition responsive means 25 is firmly held against the surface 27 ofthe housing means 21. With the temperature sensing bulb 24 of thecondition responsive means 25 sensing a temperature lower than thedesired temperature for closing the contacts 50 and 39, the end 71 ofthe rod-like member 61 is disposed against the wall 68 of the conditionresponsive means 25 and holds the contacts 50 and 39 together.

The temperature sensing bulb 24 is subsequently immersed in a fluid bathhaving a controlled temperature, which is dependent upon the temperaturethat the device 20 is to sense to close the contact 50 and 39, wherebythe movable wall 68 of the condition responsive means 25 moves to theleft as the fluid expands in the bulb 24 until the movement of the wall68 is terminated whereby the rod-like member 61 will be moved relativeto the fingers 55 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Subsequently, the control device 20 is heated to approximately 500 F.whereby the insert 72 completely vaporizes and the epoxy resin on therod-like member 61 and end 53 of flexible member 51 in the area of hole58 is set to permanently attach the rod-like member 61 and the fingers55 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Thus, when the temperature sensing bulb 24 senses a temperature belowthe above predetermined temperature, the fluid in the chamber 60 of thecondition responsive means 25 contracts whereby the wall 68 moves fromthe position illustrated in FIGURE 5 toward the casing 62 to permit thenatural resiliency of the flexible members 43 and 51 to move to theright therewith and move the contact 50 out of electrical contact withthe contact 39 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6.

However, should the temperature sensing bulb 24 sense an increase intemperature, the expanding fluid in the chamber 69 moves the wall 68back to the left whereby the same moves the rod-like member 61 to theleft to cause the flexible member 51 to flex relative to the end 52thereof and cause simultaneous flexing of the member 43 so that thecontact 50 is moved toward the contact 39, the contact 50 being movedagainst the contact 39 when the temperature sensing bulb 24 senses thepredetermined temperature. Such flexing movement of the flexible member43 is because the member 43 is biased against flexible member 51, and,since member 51 is heavier than member 43, flexing movement of member 51controls the flexing movement of member 43.

However, should the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing bulb24 exceed the predetermined temperature, it can be seen that the end 53of the flexible member 51 is adapted to move further to the leftrelative to the flexible member 43 when the flexible member 43 has thecontact 50 thereof engaging the contact 39 because the tang 60 of theflexible member 51 can move in the overshoot slot 49 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 7 to prevent the increased temperature fromadversely affecting the flexible member 43.

While the insert 72 can comprise any suitable material having theabove-mentioned properties, one embodiment thereof is a copolymer acetalresin sold under the trademark Celcon by the Celanese Corporation ofAmerica of New York, New York.

Therefore, it can be seen that the control device 20 of this inventionis adapted to be readily calibrated in one simple operation withoutrequiring calibration of individual parts thereof before the same areassembled together.

The mounting bracket 26 has a bifurcated portion 73 defining a pair ofsplit sections 74 and 75 respectively having arcuate cross-sectionalconfigurations whereby the concave faces thereof of the sections 74 and75 face each other and are respectively provided with recesses 76 and 77which receive the conduit 70 of the condition responsive means 25 andsupports the same at a point spaced from its interconnection 79 with thecasing 62 to prevent bending at the Weld point 78 which is readilysubject to failure.

The mounting bracket 26 has a pair of rearwardly extending arms 79provided with looped portions 80 which permit the arms 79 to besnap-fitted in a recess of a supporting structure so that the edge ofthe recess can be received in the notches 81 thereof whereby the controldevice of this invention is readily adapted to be snapfitted to asupporting structure by the arms 79 thereof as well as be fastenedthereto by the mounting holds 29 previously described.

While the control device 20 of this invention has been previouslydescribed as having two flexible members 51 and 43, it is to beunderstood that the same could be modified in the manner illustrated inFIGURES 11 and 12 wherein another control device of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 82 and parts thereofsimilar to the control device 20 are indicated by like referencenumerals.

However, instead of the flexible members 43 and 51 of the control device20, the control device 82 of this invention has a single flexible member83 having one end 84 thereof interconnected to the end 34 of theterminal 23 and has the other end 85 thereof carrying the movablecontact 50. The flexible member 83 has an opening 86 passing through theend 85 thereof and aligned with a plurality of flexible fingers 87adapted to slidingly receive the rod 61 in the manner previouslydescribed.

Thus, it can be seen that when the wall 68 of the condition responsivemeans of the control device 82 moves to the left, the same moves the rod61 therewith to flex the flexible member 83 to the left to place thecontact 50 into electrical contact with the contact 39 when thecondition responsive means 25 senses a predetermined temperature, thecontrol device 82 being substantially calibrated in the same manner asthe control device 20 except that no overshoot means are providedtherein whereby the insert 72 is eliminated.

Accordingly, it can be seen that not only does this invention provideimproved control devices or the like,

but also this invention provides improved parts for such control devicesor the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control device or the like having a housing means, provided withtwo spaced and oppositely facing shoulder means the improvementcomprising a terminal carried by said housing means and having opposedand longitudinally spaced ends, one of said ends engaging one of saidshoulder means of said housing means, and means carried by the other endof said terminal and engaging the other shoulder means of said housingmeans to place said terminal under longitudinal tension between saidends thereof whereby said one end of said terminal is held fixed againstsaid one shoulder means of said housing means, said terminal having atension loop therein intermediate said ends thereof that continuouslytends to draw said ends toward each other.

2. In a control device or the like as set forth in claim 1, said one endof said terminal carrying an electrical contact means.

3. In a control device or the like as set forth in claim 1, saidlast-named means has a deformable locking means wedged between saidother end of said terminal and other shoulder means of said housingmeans.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,256,537 9/ 1941 Wulle 2001l6 X2,279,865 4/ 1942 Ellinwood 339217 X 2,878,460 3/ 1959 Coleman.3,085,139 4/1963 Wright 339-217 X 3,112,978 12/1963 Mawney et al 3392173,171,002 2/1965 Kinnear. 3,221,094 11/1965 Cherry 339-220 X BERNARD A.GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. B. GILSON, Assistant Examiner.

